Facing My Fear of Being Alone Simi Polonsky, co-founder of The Frock NYC, joins Chavie to reflect on her journey from a stable and joyful childhood in Coogee Beach, Australia to navigating the loss of her first husband, Shua, at just 31. Chavie and Simi explore whether hardship must always be the catalyst to “doing the work, and how Simi’s return to working with her sisters at The Frock, after Shua’s passing, was a vital part of her healing. Simi and Chavie explore the power of creative self-expression, not for the attention, but as a vital outlet for being seen and witnessed. Simi shared how she is grappling divorce being part of her story—while maintaining the gratitude she feels for having Yaniv, her second husband in her life. Simi shares that today is facing her soul’s deepest fear of being alone, and how that is allowing her to model to her daughters that they, too, have the strength to weather these life changing moments. Simi shares the feelings of rage, anger and then also realizing the deep intimacy of “standing alone with Hashem in a dark room” in those moments and how she has never felt closer to Hashem.

Simi Polonsky is a dynamic force of creativity, spirituality, and resilience. With an unshakable passion for expression and connection, she merges artistry with a deep relationship with Hashem, walking through life with purpose and authenticity. A proud solo mother of three, Simi co-founded The Frock NYC, a pioneering fashion brand that helped reshape the conversation around modesty. Though the brand has evolved, its spirit lives on through a vibrant community and creative presence. Through her writing, creative direction, and speaking, Simi shares from the heart—inviting others into honest, soulful connection and empowering women to show up fully in their truth. Referenced on the Pod 45:47 Permission to Feel

Stay in touch with Simi! Simi’s Instagram The Frock NYC Stay in touch with Chavie! www.instagram.com/chaviebruk www.totallyunexpected.blog

This week's episode is dedicated by a loving family member in honor of Pesel Rivka bas Hudya. May Hashem bless this incredible woman with a full recovery. Want to sponsor or dedicate an episode? Reach out to Chavie on Instagram or by email at chaviebruk@gmail.com.

Food is Your Friend - Reframing Trauma to Heal Your Body

Chavie and Lisa begin by bonding over their shared experience as podcast hosts and reflecting on Chavie’s participation in Lisa’s program. Lisa traces her path from personal trainer to certified health coach, eventually pursuing a Master’s and Doctorate in Social Work and launching a holistic and integrative health coaching business. She shares her health journey, beginning with being sent to Weight Watchers at age nine and reaching 300 pounds by the time she was seventeen. Then, after losing 150 pounds through extreme dieting, Lisa found herself physically unwell and emotionally unraveling. She shares with Chavie how this crisis propelled her to investigate why diets fail, ultimately leading her to discover the connection between trauma and health. Chavie and Lisa explore how our societal obsession with triggers and the desire to “feel safe” at all times desensitizes us from coping with uncomfortable feelings and circumstances that aren’t actually threatening to our safety—emotional or otherwise. Lisa shares that if we learn to accept feelings we don’t like, we can rely on other tools to find comfort rather than immediately turning to food. Once we learn to do that, it becomes okay to rely on food for comfort—as long as we feel in control and aren’t dependent on it for a sense of safety.

Lisa Schlosberg is the founder of Out of the Cave, LLC, where she combines her comprehensive expertise as a licensed social worker, integrative nutrition health coach, certified personal trainer, and registered yoga teacher to guide emotional eaters toward physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and healing. Maintaining a 150-pound weight loss for more than a decade by healing her relationship with food (through emotional healing, somatic experiencing, mindset shifts, and more), Lisa discovered that her lifelong struggle with "morbid obesity" and “disordered eating” were symptoms of unprocessed trauma and emotional stress. This realization fueled her passion for helping others navigate similar challenges with a heart-centered, trauma-informed approach. Her strengths-based philosophy is rooted in the belief that using food to cope is a valid method of managing stress, and it is possible to heal from the inside out. Driven to make her work accessible to all, Lisa hosts the Out of the Cave podcast, where she shares powerful client stories and expert insights to inspire global transformation.

Referenced on the Pod

• Life with Kate
• ACE Study
• Dr. Vincent Felitti Interview
• What Happened to You? By Oprah Winfrey
• “You Are In Control Not Your Triggers” - Dr Gabor Mate
• Elizabeth Gilbert on Fear & Emotions
• Out of the Cave Podcast Episode with Jeff

Stay in touch with Lisa!

www.outofthecave.health

Apply for The Out of the Cave Group Program Here

Lisa’s Instagram

Lisa’s Facebook

Lisa’s YouTube Channel

The Out of the Cave Podcast

Stay in touch with Chavie! www.instagram.com/chaviebruk www.totallyunexpected.blog

Want to sponsor an episode? Reach out to Chavie on Instagram or by email at chaviebruk@gmail.com.

Motherhood of Choice: Infertility, Adoption, Race & Everything in Between

Chavie and Malka begin the conversation by reflecting on their shared experience of marrying young and expecting to have children right away. They discuss the harsh reality of infertility, the emotional toll of repeated interventions, and the pivotal decision to stop and consider new options. Together, they break down the step-by-step process of choosing adoption, challenging the notions of a homogeneous family where everyone looks alike and shares the same background. Malka shares her experience of adopting a Black child while living in Crown Heights, where the values established by the Lubavitcher Rebbe promote inclusivity, yet daily life presented painful challenges. She and Chavie explore their differing approaches to raising a family of choice, weighing the mental health implications of giving space to grief over infertility, the nuances of acknowledging differences between biological and adopted children, and the complexities of being White parents to Black children in a world that sometimes views such a decision with suspicion. They also discuss the progress in conversations around race in the Chassidic community and the hope it brings for their children.

Malka Groden is an adoptive mother of three children. Every day, she thanks G-d for her infertility, without which she would not have been blessed with her beautiful family. She oversees fundraising at a Jewish nonprofit and loves the opportunity to spend time with and learn from generous individuals.

Referenced on the Pod

Adopting Our Daughters by Rabbi Chaim Bruk

PUAH Fertility

Lessons in Heichaltzu

The Rebbe’s Words to Mayor David Dinkins

The Rebbe Didn’t Discriminate, Neither Should We

Should White People Adopt Black Kids with Jada Pinkett-Smith

Stay in touch with Chavie! www.instagram.com/chaviebruk www.totallyunexpected.blog

This episode is dedicated by Chaim Meir Hazan and his fiancé Sandra Chokron in honor of Mrs. Chavie and Rabbi Chaim Bruk.

Want to sponsor an episode? Reach out to Chavie on Instagram or by email at chaviebruk@gmail.com.